How would you do it?

I see all these guys running stout times at drag and drive events and it kills me!

2nd or 3rd gen Hemi?

RB?

Which power adder?

I'd start by doing a deep dive into the G3 platform. I don't pay a lot of attention to G3 engines but the factory has been pushing the 800 hp mark so if you can buy a car with a warranty with 800 hp in it, then I'd think that the at least 1000 would be fairly easy to reach. Don't know about 1200+, that would require talking to some experts.

Obviously you can also make 1200 with a G2 but it is a much cruder platform. Some people like that, some don't so it really comes down to personal taste. The G2 is probably a much easier resell path, not sure how big the market is for 1200 hp G3 engines.

All it takes is ambition, time, and a big wallet.
Doug

Gen III Hemi with Turbo/s

I don't know enough about G3 Hemis, if they can make 1200 boosted with stock block and heads, that would be really hard to beat.

Turbos and E85 at a minimum on a moderate sized RB would be my route, but I'm a big block person. The G2 hemi chambers are better for boost than wedges but also have heavier valvetrains and would be harder to package a turbo kit if you're trying to keep inner fenders. I don't see many huge CI twin turbo setups, it seems 540-555 is pretty common, with 572 being the upper limit. At "only" 1200 hp I'd think you could easily get it done under 500". You also wouldn't need the best of the best for cylinder heads either. I know of a couple 440-1 headed turbo big blocks that make 1200+.

One thing I have seen interesting is the higher horsepower turbo BBC stuff sounds like they actually move to our Chrysler wrist pin and rod journal size for additional load capability.

Bigger concern is I don't think a 727 is going to live at 1200 hp behind anything long term, so a turbo 400 would be in the cards too.

Not cheap for drag and drive

It will take decent money, especially to go fast

G3 Hemi, BGE block, Thitek heads. procharger

Build an 800hp big block with a fogger and EFI. I'd spring for steel, paired shaft rockers and G Force GF5R or something similar. If that guy in the GTO can make it all of the way from Canada....

Another option would be a couple of turbos on a 650-700hp long block and stay under 15psi.

From a maintenance perspective I could see where a person would be time/money ahead using a wedge platform instead of the more complicated hemi valvetrain/intake manifold designs.


If I were going this direction I'd do a 540 Cube Indy 573-13 deal with steel rockers, Ti valves and a Holley Dominator EFI with CnP.

Here is your answer: https://www.motortrend.com/news/first-look-twin-turbo-dodge-challenger-demon-170/

This was my goal a few years ago and I chose Gen 2 Hemi with a large single turbo. Excellent street manners and a beast under boost.

Mine fits this category for the most part, but I think nitrous is too much work for a drag and drive event. My combo on E85 w/ a roots blower would be my choice. The E85 might be a pain to find along the way, but you'd need it to cool everything.
Here's MY reasoning behind that....... Nitrous is too much work, even though I love it. Turbos are too much plumbing and I'd have to cut the car up somewhat to fit everything. A procharger would be cool, but again, packaging looks like it' be a real pain and I refuse to cut my car up at all.
My car is a G2 hemi which is why the packaging is an issue. G3 or whatever would be easier.

Check out Steve Morris Racing. The guy specializes in big HP. I just watched one of his vids, 400ci SB 1200hp. I have seen some of his BB make 4500+HP. He seems to be the man for big street HP Too. Makes me want to by a Chevy. He had another vid with a mild 505 that made an easy 1200+HP. Check him out, he has a bunch of vids.

I understand the G2 Hemi needs some kind of blower to make big power. I think its in the valve design/arrangement. I just build a 572 G2 and everyone tells me without a blower, a wedge will be quicker.

Racers like Morris , Bailey and Mitchell/Cleetus are running duel fuel systems, gas on the street and methanol at the track. That would be one way to get around the fuel availability issue, but does add complexity to the total system.

All it takes is $$$$$

"how fast do you want to go ?" "how much money do you want to spend ?"..............

Gen III Hemi with a turbo. The "HEMIFOX" mustang of Big 3 Racing has a stock crank, block, and heads 6.4 last I checked. It runs mid to high 7s most of the time. He usually always wins the fastest without a trailer award on drag and drives also.

Here is an article on the motor
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2022/06/turbocharged-gen-iii-hemi-powered-1982-ford-mustang/

He has a video up on YouTube of a 1600 hp G3 build from about 5 months ago too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8Vu0r8uGi0

Based on the video sounds like it's a BGE 392 with stock heads and twin 67mm turbos. It made 1157 on 93 pump and 8 lbs of boost and 1600 on E85 and 17 lbs of boost. Doesn't seem like they pushed the tune on E85 either.

I’m not a turbo guy……. But for a 1200hp drag n drive combo, that really seems like the way to go.

If starting from scratch, you can't beat a forced induction G3 Hemi, especially when their stock blocks, heads, and even some cranks will make and handle those power levels all day.

I got converted to liking turbos when i bought an F150 with a 3.5l twin turbo. I traded it for a similar 2021, chipped it, and it makes 500 hp on pump 93/e85 mix. Not bad for a little 213cubic inch v6!